Anthony Hart reports on some happenings before the Preston match
Pubs in Preston have increased the amount of alcohol they are buying from suppliers, as over 3,000 Bolton fans descend on the town on Saturday.
Wanderers will be backed by one of their biggest, if not their biggest travelling support at Deepdale, if with it being now physically and mentally impossible to watch Neil Lennon’s team sober, publicans are preparing accordingly.
‘We need to meet the needs of drinkers. We need to make sure that when Emile Heskey has a fresh air shot, or Neil Danns loses the ball in modfield, or when Liam Feeney’s cross evades everybody and goes out for a throw-in, they can barely stand up, never mind get depressed about it,’ said Dave Carling, landlord of the Cow’s Backside pub.
Patricia Jameson works in a Preston City Centre gastropub, but supports the Wanderers, having come from the town. She told us, ‘We’ve doubled our usual weekend order. I actually saw some of that first half against Birmingham. I’ve worked in a pub for 30 years and remained teetotal, but after 25 minutes I could take no more and was necking a Guiness and it was just so relieving. I mean, Guiness. It’s usually terrible.’
‘We would encourage all football fans, Bolton or otherwise, to drink in moderation and responsibly, but Neil Danns,’ said a police spokeman.
– Can’t make it to Deepdale on Saturday? For the second year in succession, Bolton will be live on Halloween on Sky Sports. Who says Sky don’t have a sense of humour?
– Please drink responsibly